Amu's P.O.V.

Soft sand under her feet, Amu walked along the beach deep in thought. She didn't want to stay there anymore. Two weeks had passed since she'd arrived and she'd hated every minute of it. For one, in her own home she'd been able to waltz around the place in whatever she wanted. Mostly it had been boy shorts and a loose tang top. She wasn't able to do that in the summer home with Ikuto around.

Then she found it. A small body of water hidden under a rocky crevice that overlooked the ocean. She'd found it a few summers back when her father had yet again forgotten her birthday. Ami had remembered, but no one else seemed to care.

It was the place she went to get away from her troubles. Not that it mattered much. They always found her eventually, but the sense of peace she got when she dived in outmatched anything else she'd ever felt. And with Ikuto seeming way too buddy buddy it was the perfect time to get some silence.

Removing her binding and her outer clothing, she was left with a tang top and some underwear. She walked into the water until she was waist deep then she fell back allowing herself to float gently above the waves.

She'd been part of her schools swim club until the eleventh grade. Then her body didn't have enough stamina to continue. Her anorexia caught up with her.

The cool water seeped into her skin. Taking a deep breath she sank.

'Let it all wash away.'

0...

"Imperfection! Unwanted daughter you could at least have the dignity to acknowledge your impudence!"

1...

"If only you'd been born a boy, then you'd have some use!"

2...

"Dressing like a ruffian? How dare you call yourself a Hinamori as though the name suits you! You should be more like Ami!"

3...

"Aren't you the older sister? Why is it your younger sister is better then you?"

4...

"I'd date Amu if she was more girly, I mean she used to be hot and stuff. But now she's all bony and weird. If she were like her sister man... aww dude, I'd totally bang her."

5...

"You got in another fight? Your father won't be pleased. A lady should act like a lady. I feel sorry for your sister. To have such an embarrassment as her family."

6...

"Amu's so ugly compared to her little sister."

7...

"She's so annoying! Her sister is sooo much better then her! She should just kill herself already."

"Remember, she tried to but she failed."

"No that was just for attention, as if she doesn't get enough already."

"Try and try again!"

8...

"Why don't you just disappear?!"

9...

"Aren't you dating her?"

"That's a laugh. I'm doing it for the bet."

10...

"Amu... your mommy loves you very much."

Releasing all the air in her lungs Amu resurfaced breathing slowly.

"Not yet, not today." She dove into the water arms circling, feet paddling. 'I won't let anyone beat me today. I'm strong. I'm alive. I'm alive. I exist. I have to keep pushing, the minute I give up I'll prove all they say right.'

She dived down to the bottom of the water when her feet touched the ground she shoved off racing to the top, it was nearly ten feet deep. Not as deep as she had been used to. But it was still deep. She looked back to the spot her clothes were left, only a few yards out. Amu swam back easily walking out as her clothes dripped with water. The dry ones on the ground, she made sure not to go near them as the wind blew lightly across her skin drying the drops as time passed.

Amu sighed shaking her head running her hand through her hair as she remembered the event exactly two hours before. Her luck had only seemed to worsen as she ran into Ikuto yet again despite her attempts to avoid him. Once more he tried to get closer to her, or Akira as he knew Amu to be. But he hadn't exactly gone about it in the best way.

When his first words were:

"Are you gay?"

"Who the hell even asks that type of question?!" Amu screamed. Then she groaned sprawling out on the sand. "Psh, am I gay?"

Her mouth twitched. Then she burst out laughing, she couldn't help herself. She hadn't really thought about what he'd been asking until just then.

"Gay?!" Tear began to drip from her eyes. "I guess in a way I am! Hahaha!" She wiped her eyes shaking her head. "Guess he's not as stupid as he looks. I'll have to be even more careful. Way more careful."

Amu rolled to her side smiling. "It's been so long since I laughed..." Shutting her eyes she breathed out. "Damn, I'm so moody today. It's annoying almost."

Another deep breath released. "Nearing the first months end." She began to sink into sleep. "Why does the time move so slowly when you want it to speed on its way?"

Next Day

Ikuto's P.O.V.

Two weeks. A day over two weeks ago Ikuto had been living the life he'd so loved.

Numbers of girl's he'd never bothered to learn the names of clogged his phone. He'd faced satisfaction every Friday night leaving before anyone got any ideas on what was really happening with his many partners. Most of the time he'd pleasure himself with five or six of the female's he had on the side within one week.

He had money to spend and never once had he asked for anything, sometimes he'd walk around down town just to make his life interesting. Watching people complain about their lack of something made him laugh.

Now he understood their anguish.

Never before had he been so desperate to blow of his pent up steam. He'd become bored enough to take an interest in a guy.

Sure that guy looked a lot like a girl, sure he was beautiful- no, no, not what Ikuto meant. This was supposed to be to prove his point.

The night before, Akira had returned from whatever he had been doing completely drenched from rain that had been down pouring during the later part of the afternoon. Without a word the pink freak ran to his room locking the door. So much for figuring out what the crap sack was hiding.

There was a quiet crash that sounded from outside the room Ikuto was residing in. Groaning he got up. Coolness hit his bare skin. He normally only slept in boxers, why change that now?

Grabbing a pair of sweat pants he tugged them on before grabbing a hoodie and pulling it over his arms leaving it to hang halfway zipped. Then he stood up walking to his door. Once he was out he walked down the hall past the few other doors before making his way down the stair case. He stopped a few steps from the bottom when he found what had made the loud noise.

Akira. The idiot was asleep on the floor. A shattered glass lay to one side and a wet pool formed from the water that had been. His head rested on the bottom step and his chest rose and fell quickly. A bright red face and a pained expression confused Ikuto. What was up with the idiot's vulnerability?

"Kid, yo. Get up or I'm walking over you."

Akira's eyes slowly opened and he raised himself to his hands and knees looking at Ikuto as he started to stand. He grabbed the banister using it to support him.

"Ey pinky, what's up with you?" Ikuto stepped aside to let Akira pass. The male didn't respond to Ikuto's taunt for the first time. Instead Akira seemed focused on making it up the steps. He walked up about three before he swayed falling to one knee. "Are you dying?" Okay what was up with the kid.

"I... fine..." After saying that Akira decided to fall face first into the stairs. Or he would have if Ikuto had caught his arm and hoisted him to his feet.

"What are you drunk? You have a hangover?"

"Fine." Akira's head was leaning against Ikuto's chest as the midnight male was being used as a stand. "Tired."

Ikuto pushed Akira's head away nearly shocked at how hot it was. It felt like the steam from a boiling pot. Sweat had made the pink's forehead wet.

"Fever." Ikuto muttered. "You're sick."

"I'm fine." Akira rasped. If he was trying to glare he was failing. Once more he began to slip down. In annoyance Ikuto lifted one of Akira's arms over his shoulders wrapping his own around Akira's waist. "No... help."

"Cut the tsundere crap." Ikuto groaned. "It's annoying as hell. Do you really think I want to help out your sorry ass?"

Akira slumped moving his feet slowly up the steps. They moved over to the side of the hall Akira had claimed walking straight to his door, diagonal from the bathroom.

"I'm fine from here." Akira shoved off of Ikuto running into the door. "I'll just go lie down."

"You can barely stand. You need to shower and change first." Why did Ikuto care?

"I will." Akira leaned against the door. "Go away."

"You can barely stand."

"So?" The door opened and he fell forward slamming into the ground.

"Not the smartest when you're sick." Ikuto raised an eyebrow crossing his arms.

"Go away." Panted Akira.

"Annoyingly useless." Ikuto hefted Akira into his arms carrying him to the bathroom.

"Go away."

"Wash and I will."

"I just need to sleep."

"If you want to get to your room get there yourself." Ikuto walked into Akira's room, litered with trash and clothes. He snatched a pair of sweats and a tee from the dresser tossing it into the bathroom. "There you go. Do what you want, I'm just helping you. It's boring here and I need something to do."

"Go away." Akira crawled to the bathroom door slamming it. The lock clicked.

"Welcome." Gritted Ikuto. He narrowed his eyes turning away as he walked down the hall down the stairs. Akira's actions only making him more suspicious. He'd find out the secret eventually.